A long time ago, in China, there lived two monks, a rich monk with a large following of devotee and a simple mud-hatched monk living in solitary retreat. They happened to live in the same mountain.

One day, the two monks happen to meet on the mountain pool.

" What is your greatest wish?" asked the rich monk.

" I have a quest to travel to the south sea to visit the Kuan Yin Bodhisattva's holy shrine." The poor monk answered.

" That is exactly my wish as well to go to the Holy Site of Kuan Yin but the South Sea is more than a thousand miles away. I have been preparing for the last 5 years for such a journey. Would you like to join me? I am sure that we can make room for one more. But we are not ready yet, I have to save up more money and clothes and horses…" The rich monk rattled off his list of itinerary.

" So what have you been doing to prepare for the journey?" the rich monk asked.

" Just this." The poor monk showed him an old chipped begging bowl, " and this." He pointed to his legs.

" Oh, how wonderful," as the rich monk exclaimed—secretly he thought the poor monk is a fool and will never make it to the South Sea, " I wish you much good wind for your journey. For me as I must take on the responsibility of my followers, I have to do a bit more preparation."

They parted ways. And the rich monk continues his gradual building up of wealth and supplies for the journey.

A few years later, they happened to meet again. The rich monk greeted the poor monk with a nod, "My brother, how have you been. Did you ever make it to the South Sea with your bowl and straw sandals?"

" Yes, twice I have made the journey." The poor monk bowed—he had started the very day after their first conversation. Begging and walking in meditation along the way. There was hardship but also great opportunity to cultivate his compassion and equanimity. After a year, he reached the South Sea and in a misty morning during one of his meditation he felt the presence of Kuan Yin sitting next to him. And there was the most beautiful rainbow stretching over the sea. The local people told him that only when the Bodhisattva Kuan Yin emerged does the rainbow appears. It rarely happens but only occurs when there is a holy pilgrim presence. The native bestowed gifts and food to the poor monk but he only took just enough for one meal.

" How is that be possible, you who have nothing already went twice!" exclaimed the rich monk.

" Here my dharma brother is a small jar of white sand that I have brought back for you." The poor monk gave the other monk a pure white bottle of sand. The white sand could have only come from the South Sea.

" Because I have nothing, that I can go twice. But after the second journey, I realized that everywhere I go Kuan Yin is present. That without even taking a single step I have arrived. That is what I realized in my quest. Good luck my brother may you start soon."

The rich monk felt hot tears rolling down his cheeks. He bowed low to the poor monk and saw a soft luminosity the seems to embrace his whole body.

With deliberation, the rich monk strips away all the ornaments, the gold walking staff, the silk saffron, the silk shoes and started to walk toward the South Sea. His solitary figure slowly disappear into the horizon as his devotee tried to call him back to wait for them.

" Walk alone, my brother, just keep walking alone." the poor monk sang a gatha toward the diminishing figure.  For in his heart, he knew that the other monk has already arrived with the first solitary step that he took.
 
 

By Sat Chuen Hon

Thursday, July 27, 2000

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